The bane of society
Well you may ask surely we need business models for business to run effectively and for growth and thus the prosperity of the general populous. Yes, but were on the chart of importance should it be?
A conversation between a dying Steve Jobs and Bill Gates ended in a humble appreciation of each others skills. But the give away comment for me was Bill's using the phrase of the conversation "well, we have a difference of opinion of our business models" and there is the give away comment. The model first, then how to execute it, whereas Jobs view was innovation and connection. Innovation was primarily about the end user, for example the iphone, before that product the phone market resembled the TV market at present, confused, unconnected (how many handsets does it take to watch TV now!!!) and short term. Connection of products and operation systems learn one then you can operate all the other applications , ie get 'Pages" (macs 'Word') then all the others have the same interface...simple.
Try that with an Adobe product! A circle in Photoshop is different from InDesign which again is different in Illustrator, and before you say well they are different products so they have to be different, ask yourself who are you thinking about the engineers who build it or the end user? Who is your primary concern? Making life easier for the engineer or the end user?
Thats why artists and engineers have to work together, either on their own and you get a pretty product that crashes all the time or a product that works, but is overcomplicated for the ordinary user and therefore not used.
Make IT simple...Three moves
We now take it for granted that we buy a phone and use it, not spending hours trying to find stuff and reading reams of instructions. It has to be intuitive to reach the majority otherwise you have a product the excludes.
So which is the better model?
The one were you sell as a product that is short term, rushed to the market (the ipad has been promised for over 10 years, not until battery life was improved would it be released), selling something that is shiny and status driven or a product that is aimed for everyday people to use, setting bench marks rather than following, actually trying to improve people lives rather than just trying to get cash out of their pockets.
Its always about the end user
"They just don't get it" (Steve Jobs) in reference to Google and Microsoft's approach to product design
As Landscape Architects and Garden Designers we need to 'GET IT' otherwise what is the point? Vanity, personnel status, wealth?
All chasing the wind, here to day gone tomorrow, all is vanity, as Solomon is alleged to have written.
Conclusion
The end user determines design.
This is our mission, if not, go and get a job in the City.
Legacy, what are you going to leave behind?
Tuesday 25 October 2011
Friday 21 October 2011
A bit of what you like
Urban Noise Crit
Well after working hard on this it seemed to be appreciated, even if it was probably a bit safe on the idea front.
General Points from Robert And Benz
These are the points that are general to all of us.
1) Short, sharp and snappy. Keep on subject don't try and cover it all.
2) More ambitious!!!!
3) Before and after, make it clear.
4) More sketch up for massing, as in buildings etc.
5) Image and Annotation otherwise a slide waisted.
6) No PDF. Use Powerpoint (or equivalent) carful with film.
Personal Crit
1) Could be more contemporary
2) Lighting was lame
3) More adventurous
All very fair points, so more pushing the envelope, so to speak.
Urban Noise Video 1 Minute (watch in HD/full screen for best effect)
Well it seemed to cause a bit of amusement near the end, not sure why, so answers please or is my Asperger's cutting in?
A bit romantic and poetic thanks to Vaughn William's 'Lark Ascending' (but not
the obvious bit) going into a lovely minor key.
Always felt it had too many slides and the first few were a bit messy, generally needs tightening up and a bit more of a radical proposal.
Well after working hard on this it seemed to be appreciated, even if it was probably a bit safe on the idea front.
General Points from Robert And Benz
These are the points that are general to all of us.
1) Short, sharp and snappy. Keep on subject don't try and cover it all.
2) More ambitious!!!!
3) Before and after, make it clear.
4) More sketch up for massing, as in buildings etc.
5) Image and Annotation otherwise a slide waisted.
6) No PDF. Use Powerpoint (or equivalent) carful with film.
Personal Crit
1) Could be more contemporary
2) Lighting was lame
3) More adventurous
All very fair points, so more pushing the envelope, so to speak.
Urban Noise Video 1 Minute (watch in HD/full screen for best effect)
Well it seemed to cause a bit of amusement near the end, not sure why, so answers please or is my Asperger's cutting in?
A bit romantic and poetic thanks to Vaughn William's 'Lark Ascending' (but not
the obvious bit) going into a lovely minor key.
Always felt it had too many slides and the first few were a bit messy, generally needs tightening up and a bit more of a radical proposal.
A bit muddy on the lighting, and also a bit too many dark spots, has an East German Border feel about it.
Worked hard on this one to try and get the sunrise through the tree, really not that easy, half blinded myself getting photos of similar sunsets. The important thing is the silhouette effect. The tree opposite should be much darker and the lens flare not quite right. More birds, though Mr Fox i like. Slowly getting atmosphere even if its not that subtle at present.
Dappled light and distance seem to work well. Plus grumpy teenagers out with Mum (much rather be on my Nintendo). pleased with the grass, trees improving.
Now a week of AutoCAD.
My least favourite programme, but found out today (thanks Paul) that files can still be converted to Bryce, but you have to convert to 3Dmax from AutoCAD.
Another 100 hours of my life gone i suspect.
Got a test copy of V-Ray, may give it a go as Photo realism is the in thing.
Thats it......
Wednesday 19 October 2011
Winging It
Is defiantly not good for you!
Well our group (group two Green Cranes) got away with blue murder today. Tom and Benz were very generous with their marks for us. Well done to Lisa, Jimmy and Ben, also all who contributed to the hashed together presentation.
Some of the other presentations were very slick and deserved the high marks that they got, particularly liked the model of Andy's group, the graphics of the Isle of Dogs group and the Piano concept of Joey and the crowd. Well done to all, plenty to plagiarise sorry, be inspired by.
So we have now divided some of the work out to peoples strengths ( read comfort zones). The plan being that we all place our work on Dans mobile me account and then put together a slick, stunning and well thought out presentation.
A couple of sequential sketches.
Well our group (group two Green Cranes) got away with blue murder today. Tom and Benz were very generous with their marks for us. Well done to Lisa, Jimmy and Ben, also all who contributed to the hashed together presentation.
Some of the other presentations were very slick and deserved the high marks that they got, particularly liked the model of Andy's group, the graphics of the Isle of Dogs group and the Piano concept of Joey and the crowd. Well done to all, plenty to plagiarise sorry, be inspired by.
So we have now divided some of the work out to peoples strengths ( read comfort zones). The plan being that we all place our work on Dans mobile me account and then put together a slick, stunning and well thought out presentation.
A couple of sequential sketches.
A 300 year in the future (yep we still wear Jeans so my time traveller friend tells me, and they re-named the Snickers Bar back to a Marathon, so all is not lost for humanity) picture of a flooded London, with high rises losing their lower floor, but in tact as they were designed with that in mind (thanks Ambica). Also floating houses that move with the tide. Not very pleased with this one a bit rushed thus the distant buildings look a bit naff. Generally looks photoshopped thus the effect of belief is lost.
Much happier with this one. Set for the more recent history by the edge of the River Lee. Maybe some better refection of the sky in the water and more dappled atmospheric light, but it seems to work in a, Jekyll painterly manner'
Friday another 1 min silent presentation, particularly difficult for the likes of Jimmy, Ben, Dan and I (who says women are the talkers).
Curry, Bed and digging tomorrow at Hadlow......Nice.
Wednesday 12 October 2011
In Art I am out of Context
Or that at least how it feels
Normally I don't comment on class crits, but this is an exception to the rule.
Why? Well sometimes one is overawed with wise and insightful advice and this was one of those occasions, for me at least.
As someone who loves Modernist/Constructionist art (though no expert, just get it) I have always been a bit suspicious of Post-modern art even though generally I like it. The point that I always struggle with is the allegory bit.
Connecting art with place, context, history etc. Surely must be better than the isolated modernist piece that relies on just being, were ever its placed.
I suppose ignorance always leads to suspicion (on my part ) so listening and taking extensive notes was a huge help to get somewhere to understanding this side of the art world.
I am very aware of the Emperors New clothes syndrome and like anybody else i don't want to sucked in and mugged. I don't want to be separate and exclusive from people, and the people we serve as designers/artists, otherwise its pointless and at worst vain.
Though the whole 'space' and 'place' difference is where its at for me, as jogging peoples memory or getting them to see a space as a place and thus valuing it, is the reason for our occupation....'its about people.....stupid'. How we do it depends on all the other factors of context (but there are occasions were we create the context for others to follow, like the modernists) and in my opinion the God of context should be a small g.
On a personal note (like the above was somebody else's opinion) the crit on my work was spot on and really didn't think about the message being too simple and thus once solved (like a crossword puzzle in a daily paper) the piece would be ignored. So a bit more depth from my side of the gene pool, unlike the rest of my classmates who generally had thought through their work to a more in depth state with questions still to ask.
My conclusion its about the end user and their interaction on daily basis for my Car Park in the dullest of Suburbia.
As a sign off point the lecturers have a depth of knowledge that comes from actually creating such works with all the wrestling of justification and doubt that goes with the territory, as well as being well read. To be able to bounce back such wise words can only come from the deep pool of experience.
Normally I don't comment on class crits, but this is an exception to the rule.
Why? Well sometimes one is overawed with wise and insightful advice and this was one of those occasions, for me at least.
As someone who loves Modernist/Constructionist art (though no expert, just get it) I have always been a bit suspicious of Post-modern art even though generally I like it. The point that I always struggle with is the allegory bit.
Connecting art with place, context, history etc. Surely must be better than the isolated modernist piece that relies on just being, were ever its placed.
I suppose ignorance always leads to suspicion (on my part ) so listening and taking extensive notes was a huge help to get somewhere to understanding this side of the art world.
I am very aware of the Emperors New clothes syndrome and like anybody else i don't want to sucked in and mugged. I don't want to be separate and exclusive from people, and the people we serve as designers/artists, otherwise its pointless and at worst vain.
Though the whole 'space' and 'place' difference is where its at for me, as jogging peoples memory or getting them to see a space as a place and thus valuing it, is the reason for our occupation....'its about people.....stupid'. How we do it depends on all the other factors of context (but there are occasions were we create the context for others to follow, like the modernists) and in my opinion the God of context should be a small g.
On a personal note (like the above was somebody else's opinion) the crit on my work was spot on and really didn't think about the message being too simple and thus once solved (like a crossword puzzle in a daily paper) the piece would be ignored. So a bit more depth from my side of the gene pool, unlike the rest of my classmates who generally had thought through their work to a more in depth state with questions still to ask.
My conclusion its about the end user and their interaction on daily basis for my Car Park in the dullest of Suburbia.
As a sign off point the lecturers have a depth of knowledge that comes from actually creating such works with all the wrestling of justification and doubt that goes with the territory, as well as being well read. To be able to bounce back such wise words can only come from the deep pool of experience.
Pencil, with iconic Google pin as destination
Thin from the side and tilting back took look as if it landed like an arrow.
Quick bit of PS
Saturday 8 October 2011
Its' Just a Minute'
But not with Nicholas Parsons
Edited the original, cut the music (outch) to a minute if i had more time i would've edited out the middle as the ending is good. Sorry Mr Brubeck.
The video has a more snappy feel if a bit rushed in places , anyway next time.
Edited the original, cut the music (outch) to a minute if i had more time i would've edited out the middle as the ending is good. Sorry Mr Brubeck.
The video has a more snappy feel if a bit rushed in places , anyway next time.
As Changeable as the Wind
Theme Project , silent (well almost) presentation
Well rather jumped upon finding out that we had only one minute to present, (rather than the assumed 3) so my 2 min video was lost in is minor glory. Also no sound on the machine (so i will endevor to upload some drivers so that we can all have sound if not bring a lap top in and play them simultaneously, as your lap top does the sound and the picture on the TV)
Other point to remember are, all MAC users save to mpeg-4, not a quick time movie as it won't play(as Jimmy tried too).
Video
Well rather rushed so the idea was not executed properly but with a bit more time would've refined it. The pace was set by the music and thus that i was annoyed that i could not play the whole 2 minutes. Admittedly we were the guinea pigs. So next vid will be more refined i hope.
Full screen button next to 'Vimeo' press while playing
Well rather jumped upon finding out that we had only one minute to present, (rather than the assumed 3) so my 2 min video was lost in is minor glory. Also no sound on the machine (so i will endevor to upload some drivers so that we can all have sound if not bring a lap top in and play them simultaneously, as your lap top does the sound and the picture on the TV)
Other point to remember are, all MAC users save to mpeg-4, not a quick time movie as it won't play(as Jimmy tried too).
Video
Well rather rushed so the idea was not executed properly but with a bit more time would've refined it. The pace was set by the music and thus that i was annoyed that i could not play the whole 2 minutes. Admittedly we were the guinea pigs. So next vid will be more refined i hope.
Full screen button next to 'Vimeo' press while playing
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